How Does A Tankless Water Heater Work?
A tankless water heater heats water as needed, as opposed to a traditional tank that stores heated water until it’s needed. In Avalon, NJ and all around the Jersey shore, this is becoming a more and more popular system for homes and businesses, and a pretty simple plumbing project for a professional.
Tankless water heaters are smaller and more energy efficient than traditional tanks, and also never run out of water. One of the biggest disadvantages of a tank is that it runs out of hot water, and you have to wait for it to reheat. This is why heating on demand allows you to have continuous hot water.
Schedule A Tankless Consultation
How Is The Water Heated?
A tankless water heater has a water intake and output. The normal, room temperature water enters your water heater, and goes through a heat exchanger. This exchanger is either gas or electric powered, and this is where your water is heated. Then, it’s pushed out of your water heater to whichever appliance is calling for the heated water.
Usually, a tankless water heater can provide hot water at a rate of 2-5 gallons per minute. If you have a gas powered heat exchanger, it will usually provide a little better heating than the electric system.
One of the disadvantages of a tankless water heater is the capacity. If you are running an appliance while also taking a shower, that pretty much stretches the limit of hot water available. If you live in a very large house where more hot water is needed, you can install multiple systems that are all hooked together. Apartment buildings and businesses usually do something like this in order to provide endless hot water.
A normal sized home can usually get away with one system that takes care of the whole house.
How A Tankless Water Heater Benefits Your Home
A tankless water heater has some great benefits, and it’s all due to how it works. This difference is all in the operation of how it heats and stores your water.
- How Does A Tankless Water Heater Save Money
- How Long Will A Tankless Water Heater Last
- A Tankless System Never Runs Out Of Hot Water
How Does A Tankless Water Heater Save Money
A tankless water heater saves money by using less energy than a traditional tank. With a traditional water heater, you are storing water and keeping it hot 24 hours a day. That means even when you aren’t using the hot water, you are still using energy to keep it hot and stored in your home.
A tankless water heater only uses energy when hot water is needed. All those hours of keeping 40+ gallons of water hot are no longer when you have a tankless system. A condensing system can even run up to 98% efficiency. This additional energy efficiency will allow you to save on energy bills.
Read More: Why Does My Toilet Keep Running?
How Long Will A Tankless Water Heater Last
A tankless water heater should last 20+ years. Because of the way a tankless water heater works, there is less wear and tear on the system than a traditional water heater tank. The storage of water in the tank can corrode the material and eventually lead to leaks and rotting.
Additionally, there is a lot of sediment and debris that can sit in the bottom of a water heater tank. This buildup is bad for the water quality, and for your system. Magnesium and calcium start to build into sediment, and they settle on the bottom of the tank. Eventually this is going to lead to problems with your water heater.
A Tankless System Never Runs Out Of Hot Water
As we mentioned above, a tankless water heater works on demand, and never runs out of hot water. There is no storage tank that once it’s depleted, needs to fill back up. Your water is heated as you need it, and in theory, can run it forever and the hot water will keep on coming.
The only problem you may run into is having the capacity. If you have several showers going at the same time, and are running the dishwasher, you may start to run out of hot water to go around.
In these situations, people may have 2 tanks installed, or be mindful of using appliances at the same time to make sure there is enough hot water to spread out.
Read More: How To Improve Your Beach House Plumbing
Condensing Systems VS Non-Condensing Systems
Tankless water heaters are either condensing or non condensing.
A condensing system usually runs more efficiently, at about 90%+, and can be up to 98%. These systems use the excess heated vapor that is produced and recycle it. This vapor is cooler than a non condensing system’s, usually at about 100 degrees. Instead of expelling the vapor, it uses it in a second heat exchanger, and expels the diluted water after it is treated inside the system.
A non-condensing system expels that gas, which is usually much hotter, at about 300 degrees. Instead of using this energy, it expels it, making it less efficient, usually at about 80%.
Plumber In Avalon, NJ
If you are looking for a plumber in Avalon, NJ, or any of the surrounding shore points, give us a call at (609) 390-3907. We can help service and install a water heater, and so much more. Leaky faucets, faulty toilets, or whatever plumbing issue you are having, we can help with!